Roadrunners’ Craig Cunningham makes surprise return to Tucson Arena

Eight weeks after collapsing on the ice of Tucson Arena, Tucson Roadrunners captain Craig Cunningham made his first public appearance, surprising the AHL team at their home game against the Texas Stars.

It was the first time Cunningham had been back to the arena where he suffered cardiac arrest that cost him part of his leg and nearly his life.

Back home 🙂 #CunnyDid pic.twitter.com/6bMrx5w58D

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) January 15, 2017

“I think it brings up a lot of emotions for everyone,” winger Stefan Fournier said, per the team’s website. “Everyone here has obviously seen Craig throughout the process, but for a lot of us it was just great to see him around the rink, see him smile, hear him laugh a bit before the game, it was awesome.”

Cunningham, a 26-year-old center from British Columbia and a team captain, collapsed on the ice before the Roadrunners began their game on Nov. 19, 2016. Quick reaction from trainers and CPR from firefighters who were there to perform the national anthem kept him alive long enough to be rushed to a nearby hospital.

Doctors determined that Cunningham endured a cardiac rhythm disturbance, though they were unable to identify a clear cause. With his heart failing, doctors used an artificial heart and oxygenator to keep him alive.

While the devices kept Cunningham’s blood flow working, they also damaged the circulation in his left leg. Fearing infection, doctors chose to amputate part of the leg to protect him. During the recovery, Cunningham received almost daily visits from teammates and GM Doug Soetaert.

“I think anytime we see him in here, our spirits are pretty high just to see him smile,” winger Christian Fischer said after Saturday’s game. “He’s stuck with it all of the way, it’s amazing to see this comeback that he’s came from. When he’s here, that definitely lifts our spirits and gives us a little more energy. We played for him tonight.”

Despite the fact that the condition ended his playing career, Cunningham focuses on the fact that he managed to survive and the skill of all the medical staff who helped him.

“Every time I think about how I can’t play anymore, I just think back to [the fact that] I’m lucky I’m not 10 feet under,” Cunningham said, per ESPN’s Craig Custance. “If I have to sacrifice playing hockey to be alive — and it’s a tough pill to swallow for sure, it’s been my whole life since I was 4 years old — it’s time for me to move on.”

With Cunningham back, sitting in a wheelchair on the sidelines and joined by his mother and some team executives, the Roadrunners earned a 3-2 victory.

“He’s our Captain, and he’ll be our Captain for the rest of the year,” Hunter Fejes said after the victory.